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Andrew Berry’s best draft picks since taking over the Cleveland Browns

By Chad Porto

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 23: Justice Hill #43 of the Baltimore Ravens fumbles the ball as he is hit by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 23: Justice Hill #43 of the Baltimore Ravens fumbles the ball as he is hit by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

2020 – Donovan Peoples-Jones

By this point, the grades are in for the 2020 NFL Draft and the Cleveland Browns whiffed on it hard. Sure, there is still potential in guys like Jedrick Wills and Grant Delpit, but after three years it’s fair to say that the rest of the talent isn’t going to develop any further. Right now the 2020 Draft has only produced one viable, long-term player, sixth-round pick Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Peoples-Jones was a solid player at Michigan but he wasn’t bowling people over. The Browns weren’t really focused on him being anything more than a return man and special teams player but injuries to the receiving corp in 2020 and 2021 propelled Peoples-Jones into a more substantial role.

As a rookie, he caught 14 passes on 20 targets, for 304 yards and pulled in two touchdowns. Not bad considering he was fourth on the depth chart. As a sophomore, he jumped to 34 receptions, on 58 targets, for 597 yards and three touchdowns. His third year saw him enter the season as the second option behind Amari Cooper and caught 61 passes, on 96 targets, for 839 yards and three touchdowns.

I think he’s reached his ceiling, but for a sixth-round pick, Peoples-Jones has proven he can be a player to notice. His best role would likely be as a slot guy and a third receiver in a better offense, but considering where he was taken and how up in the air the 2020 draft class is for the Browns, he’s in pretty good shape all things considered.

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